Georgia’s PM Rejects Revolution Amid EU Membership Protest Freeze

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced today that the government will not allow a revolution following the protests against the sudden freeze of Georgia’s EU membership process, reported Reuters.

Kobakhidze’s ruling party, Georgian Dream, stated on Thursday that it will halt negotiations for EU accession for the next four years, claiming that Georgia is being blackmailed by the EU.

Joining the EU is very popular in Georgia, with public opinion polls consistently showing strong support. The freezing of the membership negotiations has sparked widespread anger in the country, where the goal of EU membership is enshrined in its constitution, according to BTA news agency.

The Prime Minister accused opponents of the halt to EU accession of preparing a revolution similar to the protests in Ukraine’s Maidan in 2014, which ousted the pro-Russian president.

He stated, “In Georgia, the Maidan scenario cannot be realized. Georgia is a state, and the state will not allow this,” as reported by Georgian media.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that 107 people were arrested last night in Tbilisi during the protests, where demonstrators built barricades on the main Rustaveli avenue and threw fireworks at the police. The riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

New protests are planned for tonight.